As a rock hound I am fascinated with the history of mining and quarrying, the extraction of earth’s elements, the rocks, minerals, metals and petroleum, natural gas and even water, though water is not mined in the common sense of the word. We benefit from mining in thousands of ways. You wouldn’t have your television, your computer, you IPod or your cell phone without it. We wouldn’t have fuel to keep us warm or run our vehicles; we wouldn’t have xray or the medical technology we have today or the weapons we have to protect us without it and you wouldn’t be giving the love of your life that diamond engagement ring without mining, just for starters and list list goes on and on. Read more…